A few federal lawmakers have had their second PCR test even as the government is refusing to do PCR test for all of those in quarantine facilities.
The Federal Parliament Secretariat issuing a code on conduct had conducted PCR test of all lawmakers and staffers, and banned them from leaving the Kathmandu Valley. But lawmakers went to the districts in the name of distributing relief materials and are getting PCR test on their return.
The government citing the rising pressure on laboratories has issued a guideline stating that asymptomatic persons in quarantine facilities should not get PCR test.
The lawmakers had got PCR test in the parliament building in New Baneshwore on May 7 and 8 before the start of budget session of the House. The secretariat has again started to refer the returning CPN lawmakers to Teku Hospital for PCR test.
Dr Pushpa Rijal in the health section of the secretariat confirmed with Setopati that over 15 lawmakers including Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Krishna Kumar Shrestha (Kisan), Kedar Sigdel, Matrika Yadav and Padam Giri of ruling CPN have got a second PCR test.
"People have died in the villages. They have to go to distribute relief materials. They say people's representatives should go to share the grief of people," Rijal told Setopati. "We have told them to inform us 48 hours before returning from districts as we don't allow them inside the House without PCR test."
"I had a family chore, went to the district and returned," CPN lawmaker from Parbat Padam Giri told Setopati. "I have got PCR test and tested negative."
CPN lawmaker and former lawmaker Mahara had also posted a video of him ploughing the field in Rolpa a few days back. Rijal revealed that Mahara's swab has also been collected.
Chief whip of ruling CPN Dev Gurung also confirmed that lawmakers who have returned from districts have been given PCR test. "Code of conduct has been issued to not go to districts outside the Valley," Gurung stated. "The honorables who have work go and get another PCR test on return."
Note: The headline has been corrected as we could not confirm all of the lawmakers getting retested are from CPN.
